Categories: weather, australia
Date: 31 January 2008 13:22:19
After two days of very hot and humid weather, a storm swept up from the Illawarra through Sydney early this evening: and what a storm it was!
I was driving to trivia [where we redeemed our previous poor efforts for the year and managed 2nd: and congratulations and many years to our compere who is getting married Saturday!], the storm hit, and I mean hit. I could barely see 5 metres in front of me, and the lightning was truly blinding: it appeared to be everywhere instantly -- all I saw were flashes that appeared to be right above me, and then the huge rumbling of thunder. My nice new car informed me the temperature dropped from the low 30s to the low 20s...and then the hail began. And remained. I believe the car escaped any major hail damage...I'll have to check tomorrow when the sun is up. I do pray there is little damage to property, especially for those people around Blacktown who still have tarpaulins up since a storm in early December. Lord, have mercy.
At about 10pm, I received a call from my boss saying she heard from the cleaners that our office experienced flooding -- and the computer room was affected. Fearing the worst, I dashed down, meeting the Senior Manager: thanks be to God it was only floor and wall damage -- we suspect the gutters overflowed and the water came through the roof and walls. We mopped and cleaned-up a bit: there will be a bit more work to do tomorrow.
[edit: car seems okay; office carpets are in a bad way -- an exciting Friday]